Air directing louver device



July 11, 1961 A. B. GOETTL AIR DIRECTING LOUVER DEVICE Original FiledAug. 20, 1957 INVENTOR. A LBERT B. GOETTL United States Patent 2,991,707AIR DIRECTING LOUV'ER DEVICE Albert B. Goettl, Phoenix, Ariz., assignorto McGraw- Edison Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation of DelawareOriginal application Aug. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 679,223,

now Patent No. 2,895,401, dated July 21, 1959. Divided and thisapplication May 18, 1959, Ser. No. 813,836

2 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) The present invention relates to an air directinglouver device.

This application is a division of my copending application for AirDirecting Louver Device, Serial No. 679,223, filed August 20, 1957, nowPatent No. 2,895,401, dated July 21, 1959.

In the construction of air directing louver devices employingintersecting notched slats various devices have been employed forholding the notches of such intersecting slats in mesh or engagedrelation with each other during the fiow of air between the slats.Furthermore, it has been a problem to provide simple means for holdingsuch slats in various adjusted positions relative to each other andwithin a frame which circumscribes the assembly of the intersectingslats.

According to the present invention a plurality of intersecting louverslats are provided with meshing notch portions having inwardly directednotch extremities wherein arcuate bearings interconnect the slats. Thecenters of the arcuate bearings form pivotal axes for the slats andpermit them to pivot within the angular limits of the notches of theseslats while the arcuate bearings also provide frictional interengagementof the slats to hold them in various angularly adjusted positionsrelative to each other.

The present improvements in air directing louver construction areparticularly adapted to the use of plastic materials which may havesufficient resilience to provide for frictional loading of interengagingarcuate bearings which interconnect the slats at their intersectingnotch portions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air directinglouver device wherein arcuate bearings, at the inner extremities ofmeshing notches in intersecting slats, interconnect the intersectingslats on their pivotal axes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved air directinglouver construction particularly for use in the assembly of slats inframes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention may be apparentfrom the following specification, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an air directing louverdevice including a plurality of intersect ing slats contained in asubstantially rectangular frame.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 22 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the present air directing louverdevice is provided with a frame which is substantially rectangular andis provided with side elements 12 having flange portions 14 adapted tosurround an opening in which the frame 10 may be inserted. The frame isprovided with a plurality of integral spaced parallel slats 16 havingsubstantially V-shaped notch portions 18 therein. These V-shaped notchportions are provided with arcuate concave cylindrical bearing portions20 at their inner extremities and the notches 18 diverge outwardly to acommon edge 22 of the slats 16.

2,991,707 Patented July 11, 1961 A plurality of slats 24 are disposed atsubstantially right angles to the slats 16 and intersect the same. Theslats 24 are provided with U-shaped notch portions 26 having parallelsides which straddle the slats 16 and at the inner extremity of thenotch portions 26 are arcuate in cross section convex surfacedcylindrical bearing portions 28 which are integral with the slats 24.

The arcuate bearings 28 are engaged in the arcuate recesses of the slats16 and the arcuate bearing portions 20 extend substantially more thandegrees around the arcuate bearing portions 28. It will be noted thatthe bearings 28 are tightly fitted in the arcuate recesses 20*. Theresilience of the plastic material of the slats 16 at the arcuatebearing portions 20 grip the bearing portions 28, provide sufiicientfriction so that the slats 24, when pivoted within the angular notchportions '18, will remain in adjusted position.

In operation, the slats 24 may be pivoted relative to the slats 16within the angular limits of the V-shaped notches 18 while the arcuatebearing portions 20 grip the arcuate bearing portions 28 due toresilience of the plastic material in the slats 16. Thus, the slats 24may be pivoted to various angular positions at which they will remainduring vigorous flow of air through the louver slats; thus the slats areprevented from buffeting or moving out of adjusted position while air isbeing directed through the louver slats to a location in a building roomas desired. The bearing portions 28, which are resilient, are snappedinto the concave arcuate bearing portions and provide a very simplearrangement for initial assembly of the louver slats in intersectingrelationship with each other.

Various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in amanner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a louver slat construction the combination of: a frame; a firstslat fixed in said frame and having a substantially V-shaped notch; asecond slat intersecting said first slat and having a U-shaped notchmeshing with the V-shaped notch of said first slat; inner portions ofsaid notches of said slats being adjacent each other and each providedwith arcuate cylindrically shaped bearing structure, said arcuatebearing structures having a concentric pivotal axis for one of saidslats relative to the other and permitting movement of one slat withinthe angular limits of said V-shaped notch in the other slat, saidarcuate cylindrically shaped bearing structure of one slat beingfrictionally engaged for more than 180 degrees around the arcuatecylindrical bearing structure of the other one of said slats therebypivotally interconnecting said first and second slats and maintainingthem in engagement at their meshing notch portions.

2. In a louver slat construction the combination of: a frame; firstslats stationary in said frame and each having a substantially V-shapednotch; second slats intersecting said first slats and each havingU-shaped notches meshing with the V-shaped notches of said first slats;inner portions of said notches of said second slats provided with anarcuate integral cylindrical bearing structure, said first slats at theapex portion of said V-shaped notches having arcuate cylindricalrecesses conforming with and frictionally engaging said cylindricalbearing structure for more than 180 degrees about their arcuatestructure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,895,401 Goettl July 21, 1959

